** THE LAST OF MY SUMMER SERIES COLUMNS ** A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILLOR BRADLEY MARKS

** THE LAST OF MY SUMMER SERIES COLUMNS ** A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILLOR BRADLEY MARKS SOMEONE ONCE SAID to be your own person requires a certain independence of thought, and for Oshawa councillor Bradley Marks, the expression of his individuality reigns supreme, however, he is quick to recognize the achievements of his family in all matters concerning local politics. I had the opportunity of sitting down with the Ward 3 councillor at his office in city hall to chat about his life experiences and his position as an elected official. Bradley was born and raised in Oshawa, and has lived most of his life here. Although born into a family that boasts generations of lawyers and civic leaders, his upbringing was every bit as modest as any other middle class kid in the community. He started working at a young age and quickly learned, as he puts it “the value of hard work and independence.” This included several years in the fast food industry as a teenager, followed by jobs in local manufacturing, where he would work evenings while obtaining his post-secondary education. “I certainly didn’t receive the silver spoon, and my dad insisted I learn to pay my own way, starting at the age of 14” he said, with a note of pride in his voice. Of course, that kind of resourcefulness began several generations ago in the Marks family, when his great grandfather Ernie Marks Sr., together with five of his brothers, left the family farm in Perth Ontario to form their own theatrical touring companies. Known as the Marks Brothers, they would travel the country by train to perform on stage in local opera houses, town halls and churches, well in to the early 1920’s. It was Ernie Marks Sr. who would eventually settle in Oshawa with his wife Kitty, and purchase the local movie house on King Street, then known as the Martin Theatre, later to be renamed the Marks Theater. The Daily Times noted on March 10, 1928 that “Ernie Marks…is transforming his theatre into one of the most up-to-date motion picture houses in the Province.” Between 1984 and 1988 the historic building managed to survive two major fires, almost consuming the offices of the Marks & Marks legal firm, which at the time were located on the second floor. Bradley majored in history & political science at Trent University in 2008, and then travelling abroad where he would study law at the National University of Ireland, eventually meeting his future wife, Julie. Fast forward to 2011, and it was then that he found himself joining the family firm, Marks & Marks, where he would be called to the bar in 2015. “Nothing happens overnight” he told me, adding “Life is a process, and with patience and a lot of hard work, one can certainly succeed.” Bradley’s venture into the world of local politics seems a natural fit for someone who harbors a keen desire to serve the broader community. When asked as to the timing of his bid for a seat on Oshawa council, he said with conviction “I believe one needs certain credentials in order to run for office, and my years as a board member for St. Vincent’s Kitchen certainly held me in good stead.” He recalled with pride his time as a volunteer, and the hard work associated with such a worthy cause. In addition, his experience in the legal profession has proved helpful in understanding the legislative rules that govern municipalities. When I asked him to describe the greatest aspect of being a member of council, Bradley pointed immediately to his constituents, whom he likes to call his friends and neighbours. “Having watched my dad at council meetings advocate on behalf of the residents of Oshawa, I very much enjoy helping many of those same residents get their latest concerns resolved” he told me, going on to say “My approach is proactive, so instead of waiting for calls, I regularly tour my ward looking for anything that may need servicing, which helps to avoid problems down the road.” A quick glance at his election literature shows fiscal responsibility as one of his top priorities, with debt management being of particular concern. Operating deficits are not allowed under the legislation that governs municipalities, and it is property tax revenue and user fees that provide the ability to support essential services. No man is an island, as they say, and to that end, Bradley spoke fondly of his friend and colleague, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, a man he had not even met until election night in October 2018. “The mayor has an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm, and was able to face the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the General Motors plant with great resolve” he says, adding “It was his tone of optimism that certainly helped to ultimately bring back vehicle production.” As to his legal career, much of Bradley’s time has been spent in Family Law litigation, where he has seen his share of breakups, and he said there needs to be much greater support mechanisms for those who are struggling to maintain their marriages, and their families. “Regardless of which aspect of our society or our culture we might be discussing, the basis of personal success and wellbeing later in life rests with a person’s early upbringing, and if we can help maintain families, the results will speak for themselves.” We stared to discuss the future of the community we both know so well. Of course, the commitment by General Motors to continue producing trucks at the south Oshawa plant is of paramount importance. We discussed highway and transit infrastructure and the continued development in the city’s north end, as well as ongoing efforts in the downtown and all manner of possibilities that will see the city continue to grow and evolve. “We’ve seen considerable change in our time, and there’s a great deal more to come” he said thoughtfully. “We all need to be active and responsible citizens if we are to help shape the future of our city.” Bradley Marks is currently the City councillor for Ward 3.